Historic Profile: The Purcell House remains as one of the finest examples of work done by the local architecture firm of Purcell and Elmslie. Greatly influenced by Louis Henri Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, Purcell and Elmslie brought the Prairie Style of architecture to Minneapolis. While they are noted for their residential designs such as the Backus House and the Wakefield House, the house Purcell designed for himself has been recognized as his greatest accomplishment. The structure’s horizontal plane and flat roof as well as the conscious use of natural materials and colors flawlessly reflect the Prairie School design ethic.